Flowcharting

Flowcharting

A flowchart is a planning tool that uses graphics or symbols to illustrate the steps of a particular process. In a business organization "flowcharting, also known as logic or flow diagramming, is an invaluable tool for understanding the inner workings of, and relation- ships between, business processes." (Harrington, 86) There are four basic flowcharts, each having a specific function and they include: block diagrams, ANSI standard flowchart, functional flowchart, and geographical flowchart. Understanding and applying flowcharts normally will improve the quality of a company's product or service.

The most common type of flowchart is a block diagram, also known as a block flow diagram. "Block diagrams provide a quick overview of a process, not a detailed analysis.

Normally they are prepared first to document the magnitude of the process; then another

type of flowchart is used to analyze the process in detail." (Harrington, 92) Block

diagrams use elongated circles to depict the beginning and the end of a flowchart, and all activities in between are represented by rectangles with lines and arrows connecting each activity. Of the four basic flowcharts, the block diagram is the easiest to understand and use.

As previously stated, a block diagram is a flowchart that is used as a starting point.

Applying the ANSI standard flowchart makes a perfect follow-up flowchart that provides

greater detail using additional symbols. A rectangle is used to indicate a change of

operation. A diamond is used to indicate that a decision is to be made. The movement or transportation of property is indicated by a fat arrow while a slim arrow denotes the

movement from one process to another. An elongated circle depicts the beginning and the

end of a process. The amount of detail involved with the ANSI standard flowchart

accurately depicts the sequence of events of a specific business process.

Another type of flowchart is a functional flowchart. "A functional flowchart identifies

how vertically oriented functional departments affect a process flowing horizontally

across an organization." (Harrington 101) For example, the hiring process might begin

with a manager realizing the need for another employee so his request would then be

submitted to the controller to evaluate the budget. The controller would then ask the

personnel department to conduct interviews to search for an employee to hire. Using

either standard or block flowchart symbols works effectively with a functional flowchart.